Khirbat al-Minya, Umayyad palace complex in Tabgha, Israel
Khirbat al-Minya is a ruined Umayyad qasr complex near Tabgha, about 200 m west of the northern end of Lake Tiberias. Its walls of rough limestone blocks form a partial enclosure with gaps and collapsed sections; no roof remains. The corner towers are square, not round, as seen in the surviving masonry.
The palace was built between 705 and 715 CE under caliph al-Walid I, as confirmed by inscriptions found at the site. An earthquake in 749 CE caused severe damage that halted construction, leading to the site's eventual abandonment.
The mosque within the complex ranks among the region's earliest and shows how worship spaces and daily life existed side by side. The prayer hall with its multiple sections reveals how believers carried out their regular practices here.
The remains of the palace can be examined during a visit, with a quiet location right by the shore making exploration easier. Wearing comfortable shoes and planning for sun exposure is helpful, as the site offers little shade.
The unfinished sections clearly show how abruptly use ceased after the earthquake and what a natural disaster could mean for a power. This rupture in history remains visible in the site's present condition today.
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